Examples of Lists of Marine Boys along with associated entries in the Marine Society’s Records
Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/731 - Marine Boys. List from India giving age, date of indenture, and other particulars. List in alphabetical order - 1842 to 1861
These alphabetical listings give salient details of these youngsters’ service and should be used as a starting point, before moving on to the monthly returns in L/MAR/730.
.
Example:-
.
|
Name |
Jolley David |
|
Age |
15 |
|
Date of appointment by Court |
29th Septr 1841 |
|
Date of Indenture |
18th Sepr 1841 |
|
Embarked per Ship |
Ellen |
|
Arrived at Bombay |
17th March 1842 |
|
Promoted to be . O.S. . A.B. |
Purser’s Servant vide list dated 1 Jany 1849 |
|
Date of discharge &c |
14 March 1849 |
|
Remarks |
Discharged at Suez |
.
.
Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/C/730 - Marine Boys. List from India giving age, date of indenture, and other particulars - March 1843 to December 1864
While originally these hand-written returns would have been monthly, it would appear that only a percentage has been kept. These are normally quarterly, but sometime are half-yearly. Nevertheless, to all intents and purposes this is sufficient for tracing these youngsters’ drafts and how ‘disposed of’ and are easy to use once their number is known.
Example:-
.
March 1843
.
|
No. |
2 |
|
Names |
David Jolley |
|
Age at entry |
16 years |
|
Date of Indenture |
18th September 1841 |
|
Date of arrival in Bombay |
17th March 1842 |
|
By what Vefsel arrived |
Ellen |
|
In what Vefsel now Employed |
Semiramis |
|
Remarks |
|
Source: NMM: MSY/M/1 - Marine Society - Alphabetical Indexes to Registers of Admission
Example:-
.
David Jolley
.
|
Entered on board: |
29th April 1841 |
|
When Discharged: |
21st September 1841 |
|
To what Ship Discharged: |
?? by the Ellen |
|
|
|
|
N.B. The ‘Register of Admission’ for 1841 is missing! |
|
Source: NMM: MSY/K/10 - Marine Society - Register of Boys Received and Discharged from the Marine Society’s Ships 24th August 1837 to 11th November 1841
Example:-
.
|
Date when received: |
29th April 1841 |
|
No: |
23,159 |
|
Name: |
David Jolley |
|
Age: |
16 |
|
Stature: |
5 ft 1/2 in |
|
Description: |
Grey eyes, Brown hair, Fresh Complexion |
|
When discharged: |
27th September 1841 |
|
To whom or what Ship discharged: |
Indian Navy by Ellen |
|
In what Capacity to serve: |
Apprentice |
|
How long at other Schools: |
5 Years |
|
Character: |
Good Boy Bible |
Incidentally, from these entries (tracing all through his first engagement), it was then possible to trace David Jolley’s subsequent engagements of continuous service using the
returns of seamen entered. He progressed to holding senior rates, before then becoming a Bombay Pilot. Once again, his progression and appointments can be traced from relevant sources.
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